Minutes Annual Finance and Policies Review Meeting 10th January 2022

THE ANNUAL FINANCE MEETING FOR BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 11^th JANUARY 2021 AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT, NN29 7JP, AT 7pm.

PRESENT: – Cllrs Skittrall [Chairman]; Brown; Duckles; Gibbins; Morris and Pritchard

It was resolved to accept apologies for absence received from Cllrs Cooke; Docker; Dudley-Smith; Foward and Pollard. Apologies were also received from North Northamptonshire Councillors.

2. Declarations of interest.

Cllrs Brown and Duckles declared pecuniary interests in agenda item 5a and non-pecuniary interests in agenda item 5b.

3. Employees.
4. to review salaries: –

(i) Clerk/Burial Registrar – as a pay award is currently being considered by ALCC and NALC, it was resolved to leave the current salary unchanged.

(ii) Allotments Manager – it was resolved to leave the current salary unchanged.

1. it was noted that all Parish Council employees are employed and that PAYE is operated.
2. Pensions – it was noted that all the requirements of the Pensions Regulator have been fulfilled.

4. Cemetery.
5. review of Cemetery fees – it was resolved to increase the fee for the removal of residual spoil from £50 to £100 with effect from 1^st April 2022. The Chairman noted that the council has in the past compared fees with other local authorities and it was resolved to ask the Cemetery Representative to undertake this comparison.
6. review of the Cemetery guidelines – it was resolved to add the following wording to guideline 12 relating to the Green Burial Area “temporary metal nameplates will be removed 12 months after the date of burial”. It was further resolved to add the following note to guideline 22 “the Green Burial Area will be managed in a wildlife-friendly way”.

5. Allotments.
6. review of allotment rents for the year 1^st January – 31^st December 2022 – it was noted that rents had been increased for 2022 and resolved that no change be made for rents for 2023.
7. review of the Allotment guidelines – it was resolved to make no changes to the guidelines, however damage caused to the central track by a vehicle recently was noted and it was suggested that the gate be secured with a padlock during the winter months.

6. Insurance review.

It was resolved to accept a report [Appendix A] and implement the recommended amendments to the policy.  It was further agreed that all items included on the policy be revalued to ensure that the policy accurately reflects the values of items included.

7. Review of all policies.

It was resolved to accept a report [Appendix B] and implement the recommended amendments to policies.

Page 2064 – 10^th January 2022.

Page 2065 – 10^th January 2022.

8. Review of risk assessments.

It was resolved to implement the recommended amendments as per Appendix B.

9. Review of Terms of Reference.

It was resolved to implement the recommended amendments as per Appendix B.

10. Review of additional Standing Orders.

No amendments to the standing orders were recommended.

11. Review of the Parish Plan Action Plan.

It was resolved to accept and note a report [Appendix C]

12. Review of the Parish Council Community Project List.

It was resolved that the Clerk checks that North Northamptonshire Council is now holding this list and to request the following priorities – priority 1 the provision of a new community building e.g., Village Hall; priority 2 to be a new item – the provision of an extension to the cemetery; priority 3 to be Village Green improvements.

13. Review of GDPR documents.

It was resolved to accept and note a report [Appendix D].

14. Review of the Emergency Plan.

It was noted that work is underway to update the current plan.

15. Review of the effectiveness of internal controls for audit purposes.

It was resolved to accept and note a report [Appendix E].

16. Review of the Training Policy.

It was resolved to accept and note a report [Appendix F].

17. Precept for the year 1^st April 2022 – 31^st March 2023.

The Chairman reported that all budgets had been reviewed and funds moved between budgets where possible.  Cllr Skittrall proposed that a precept of £33411 be requested from North Northamptonshire Council.  This was seconded by Cllr Gibbins and agreed.

There being no further business the meeting was declared closed.

Signed by the Chairman. 21^st February 2022.